Climbing to the top

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Photo by Mike Maloney/London Community News/Twitter: mdmaloneyphoto
The United Way of London and Middlesex is once again looking way up as it sets its fund raising goals for this year — 26 floors up.
On Friday (Oct. 19), United Way of London Middlesex CEO Andrew Lockie was joined by representatives of Scotiabank and members of London’s sporting elite, at the foot of One London Place for the launch of the United Way 2012 StairClimb.
Scheduled to take place on Nov. 1, the StairClimb represents one of the single largest components of the United Way's yearly major fundraising campaign.
In 2011 the event raised more than $185,000 and this year, organizers are looking to exceed that amount, setting a goal of $200,000.
To help spur along the effort this year, members of London’s sporting community have joined the campaign and will be participating in this years climb.
Two of those athletes are local track stars Jen Cotten and Olympian, Damien Warner. On hand for the launch on Friday, both are looking forward to not just taking part in the event but also settling a little rivalry between the two as to which of the duo will reach the top first.
Doing a little friendly trash talking outside One London Place, Cotten was adamant that she will be the one leading the way to the top. “Oh yeah, he is going down,” she said, “I am visualizing this every night.”
Laughing off her statement, it was Warner insisting that it will be him sitting at the top and eating pizza while he waits for Cotten to finish the climb. “I just want to say, she can do all the talking she wants, but when it comes to the day, you will see who is up there first,” said Warner.
Joining them in the climb this year will another collection of champions, the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights and National Basketball League Canada’s London Lightning.
For further information on StairClimb and other United Way fundraising efforts, visit www.uwlondon.on.ca.Find us on Facebook: London Community News